An extended meeting of the Corporation's Scientific and Technical Council was held at S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia to review the subject of: Scientific Objectives of the Launch and Design Features of Microsatellite Chibis-M.

The objective of the meeting was to review and evaluate the key design solutions incorporated into MicroSatellite (MS).

The meeting of the Scientific and Technical Council reviewed the MS readiness for the final phase of its integration into cargo transportation spacecraft Progress M.

Presiding at the meeting was a first deputy for science of the general designer of RSC Energia, Chairman of the Scientific and Technical Council of the Corporation, a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences V.P. Legostaev.

A paper on the science mission of the microsatellite and its design features was presented by: Director of the Institute for Space Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences L.M. Zeleny, Chief Research Associate of the Physics Institute of the Academy of Sciences, a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences A.V. Gurevich, and Chief Designer of the Special Design Bureau of the Institute for Space Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences V.N. Angarov.

The head of the Scientific and Technical Council of the Corporation A.V.Markov reported on the status and sequence of activities to integrate the MS into the cargo transportation spacecraft.

After the meeting, a demonstration was conducted in a company's workshop to show the separation of the MS flight model form the cargo transportation container to be installed into Progress M cargo transportation spacecraft, which included deployment of the MS structural elements.

Taking part in the Scientific and Technical Council's proceeedings were: President of RSC Energia, General Designer V.A.Lopota, first vice president of the Corporation, general director of the Experimental Machine Building Plant A.F. Strekalov, first vice president of the Corporation, first deputy general designer N.I.Zelenshchikov, first deputy general designers V.A. Soloviev and E.A. Mikrin, specialists of RSC Energia, Institute for Space Research and Special Design Bureau of the Institute for Space Research, Physics Institute of the Academy of Sciences, working on the project of the Chibis-M MS, as well as young scientists and specialists of these organizations.

For information:

1) Microsatellite Chibis-M is a small spacecraft for studying new physical mechanisms in atmospheric lightning discharges. Its total mass is 40 kg, overall dimensions in the working position are 1100x1350x1805 mm (with deployed structural elements).

2) The microsatellite is to be delivered into the working orbit with an altitude of 480-500 km inside Progress M cargo transportation spacecraft to be subsequently operated in free flight for no less than 1 year.

3) The launch of the MS will make it possible to conduct scientific research in atmospheric lighting discharges and magnetic wave phenomena; to verify the microsatelite orbital insertion system using Progress M spacecraft, the operation of the MS systems and ground control systems; to implement educational programs with young specialists and students.

4) The MS was built by a team from the Special Design Bureau of the Institute for Space Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

"At the Baikonur Cosmodrome continues testing the cargo transport spacecraft "Progress M-13M." After radio checks were carried out in an anechoic chamber, the ship was returned to the booth to perform inspections for leaks.

Launch of the space rocket "Soyuz-U" with the cargo ship "Progress M-13M" is scheduled for Oct. 30."

Engines for the next two manned Soyuz flights and the Progress 45P cargo mission were built with new quality control procedures and were not among the 18 engines returned to Samara, according to Gerstenmaier.